Stamp-moistener.



S. HYAMS.

STAMP MOISTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 2, 1912.

1,068,659. Patented July 29, 1913.

dab/ i 25 Inventor:

AT FFICE.

SARAH HYAMS, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

STAMP-MOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 2, 1912 Serial No. 681,222.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SARAH HYAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a moistener for adhesive stamps and its novelty consists in the construction and adaption of the parts as will be hereinafter pointed out.

Stamp moisteners as heretofore constructed, so far as the same are known to me, have comprised spongy or absorbent material which soon in use becomes foul and sour and affords a lodging place for bacteria and a breeding place for germs. These conditions are dangerous and unsanitary.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a moistener comprising a plate of smooth non-absorbent or water-repelling material over which surface the gummed side of the stamp can be passed to take up the small quantity of water necessary to make the gum tacky, in combination with means for supplying water to such plate in suitable quantities as occasion may require, without unduly flooding the plate and thereby providing more water than is actually necessary.

I have illustrated in the drawings a device embodying my invention.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a perspec tive in miniature of the device; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section, a second portion of the moistening plate being shown in dotted outline.

In the drawings, 10 is a basin or reservoir adapted to hold water. It is made of any suitable size and material with closed sides 11, 11 and open at the top, but preferably with a bottom 12 having a sloping upper surface indicated at 13. Each side 11 is provided with a suitably recessed ear or lug 110 adapted to form bearings for trunnions 14, 14 of a tiltable plate 15 adapted to be swung over the basin 10. This plate is made'of any suitable size and material. I prefer it to be of such a size that it will fit well within the basin and of a clean, hard, non-absorbent material such as glass or porcelain. It is preferably provided at its front end underneath with a stop indicated at 16, and on its upper surface with one or more finger portions indicated at 17 Toward its rear end it is restricted in width, and its rear wall 18 is, if desired provided with small apertures indicated at 19. Grooves or channels 20, in the upper surface of the plate lead from these apertures toward its front end.

In use, the basin 10 is supplied with water as indicated in Fig. 3. The plate is made heavier at its rear end so that normally it assumes the position shown in full line in Fig. 3, and this rear end*is in the water. lVhen it is desired to use the device, the operator places his finger upon one of the depressions 17 and tilts the front end of the plate 10 downward until the stop 16 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the reservoir bottom. This tilting movement causes the rear end of the plate 10 to dip up from the reservoir, through the holes 19, 19, a small quantity of water, which flows toward the front of the plate, being guided in its course by the grooves or channels 20, and spreads in a thin film over the front upper surface of the plate. A stamp to be moistened is then lightly passed over the surface of the plate at that point and takes up sufficient water to soften the gum.

It is obvious that modifications in details of construction may be made in the device without departing from its essential features or principles.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a plate having a portion provided with a substantially smooth stamp-engaging surface, means for supplying a measured quantity of liquid to a different portion of the plate, and means on said different portion for directing the liquid from said portion to said smooth surface and causing it to form a thin film thereover.

2. In a device of the kind described, a stamp moistening plate of non-absorbent material, provided with a smooth surface at one end, means for supplying a measured quantity of water to the other end, and means for directing it to said surface and spreading it in a film thereover.

3. In a device of the kind described, a stamp mo-istening plate of non-absorbent material, provided with a smooth surface at one end, and means for supplying water to the other end in combination with means for guiding the water from one end to the other along said surface, comprising channels that diverge toward the surface.

4. In a device of the kind described, a

Patented July 29, 1913.

stamp moistening plate of non-absorbent material, provided with a smooth surface at one end, and means for supplying a measured quantity of water to the other end, including apertures therethrough, said plate directing the water to and over the said smooth surface.

In a device of the kind described, a stamp moistening plate of non-absorbent material provided with a smooth surface at one end, and means for supplying water to the other end, including apertures therethrough and channels leading from the apertures to said smooth surface.

(3. In combination a water reservoir having a sloping bottom, and a tiltable plate adapted to oscillate above the reservoir and arranged to have one end normally dipped into the reservoir.

7. In combination a water reservoir having a sloping bottom, and a tiltable plate adapted to oscillate above the reservoir and arranged to have one end normally dipped into the reservoir, and means for tilting the plate to lift such end and cause the water thereon to flow toward the other end over the surface.

S. In combination a water reservoir having a sloping bottom, and a tiltable plate arranged to oscillate above the reservoir and arranged to have one end normally dipped into the reservoir, and means for tilting the plate to lift such end and cause the water thereon to flow toward the other end over the surface, including finger depressions.

9. In a device of the character described. a Water reservoir, a tiltable plate arranged above the same to dip therein, means for tilting the plate and means for limiting the extent of such tilt-ing movement.

10. In a device of the character described, a water reservoir, a tiltable plate arranged above the same to dip therein, means for tilting the plate and including finger recesses in its upper surface, and means for limiting the extent of such tilting movement.

11. In a device of the character described, a water reservoir, a tiltable plate arranged above the same to dip therein, means for tilting the plate and including finger portions in its upper surface, and means for limiting the extent of such tilting movement, comprising a stop intermediate the plate and the basin.

12. In a device of the character described, a water reservoir, a tiltable plate arranged above the same to dip therein, means for tilting the plate and means for limiting the extent of such tilting movement, including a stop intermediate the plate and the basin.

13. In a device of the character described, a Water reservoir, a tiltable plate arranged above the same to dip therein, means for tilting the plate and means for limiting the extent of such tilting movement, including a stop on the side of the plate toward the water basin.

14. In a device of the character described, a Water reservoir, a tiltable plate arranged above the same to dip therein, means for tilting the plate and including finger recesses in its upper surface, and means for limiting the extent of such tilting move ment, including a stop on the side of the plate toward the Water basin.

15. A stamp moistener, comprising a liquid reservoir, and a stamp moistening member having a non-absorbent stamp-engaging surface, and means for removing at will a portion of the liquid from the reservoir and flowing it over said surface.

16. A stamp moistener, comprising a liquid reservoir and a stamp moistening member having a non-absorbent stamp-engaging surface, and means for removing at will a portion of the liquid from the reservoir and flowing it over said surface, said reservoir and member being relatively movable to permit a portion of the member to dip in the liquid of the reservoir.

17. A stamp moistener, comprising a liquid reservoir and a stamp moistening member movably mounted thereon and having a substantially smooth non-absorbent stamp-engaging surface, said plate having a portion movable into the reservoir to dip the liquid therefrom to pour it over the said surface.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SARAH HYAMS.

lVitnesses E. I. SOHERR, Jr, ALAN G. MoDonnELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. 

